Improvement in overshoes



JOHN WILD, on woonsooxnr, RHODE IsIIAND, .AssIeNon ro 'Inn woon..

SOCKET RUBBER COMPANY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CVERSHCES.

Speciication forming part of Letters Patent N0. 124,525, dated March `18H antedated February 24, 187:2.

SPECIFICATION. T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OIAIN WILD, of Woonsocket, in the county of Providence and in the State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Arctic Overshoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawing makv ing a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation of a waterproof overshoe constructed in accordance with my improvement. Fig. 2 represents the form ofthe outside textile quarter. Fig. 3 illustrates the form ofthe outside textile vamp. Fig. et shows the form of the quarte-r lining. Fig. 5 represents the form of the vamp lining. Figs. 2 to 5 are drawn on a larger scale than Fig. l. l

'lhe same letters, where used, indicate identical parts.

This invention relates to that class of rubber overshoes the vamps and quarters of which consist of an elastic textile fabric, combined with rubber, to render it water-proof. The tex tile fabrics suitable for this use, Whether knit or woven, are practically elastic in one direction only, and the ordinary ma-nner of cutting and applying the required piece or pieces ofthe fabric is such that the line of elasticity runs in one direction throughout, either lengthwise of the shoe or crosswise. In the former case the van] p is practically inelastic in a direction across the foot, and inthe latter case the elasticity of the fabric serves no useful purpose in the quarter, and leaves the shoe practically inelastic lengthwise, so that, in order to make a snug and comfortable fit around the ankles, elastic side gores have to be used. The object of my invention is to so cut and dispose the textile fabric as to render the portion of the shoe it forms elastic in two directions, namely, lengthwise in the quarter and crosswise in the vamp; and this is accomplished lby forming the quarter and vamp of separate pieces, united by ankle seams, and cnt out of the fabric with due regard to the required lines of elasticity, as will be generally explained in the following description and specitlcall y point ed out in the cla-im.

The sole, heel, and. foxing of the overshoe,

illustrated in Fig. 1, consist of India rubber, and the vamp A and quarter B are composed of an exterior and interior textile fabric, with an interposed layer of rubber. All the parts are united together while the rubber is in its green or plastic state, and the article then un dergoes the vulcanizing process in the usual manner to produce the iinished shoe. For the pieces of textile fabric any woven or knit goods possessing the requisite elasticity, and otherwise suitable for the purpose, may be employed. The shade lines in the ii gures, representing the patterns of woven or knitted pieces used in the construction of the vamp and quarter, indicate the lines in which the fabric is practically inelastic, by which expression is meant th at the goods is devoid of elasticity in so far as this quality can subserve any useful purpose in the class of articles under consideration, though it may possess a certain slight degree of elasticity in such direction. From the nature of the fabric it is elastic in a direction at right angles to these shade lines, so that, as the vamp pieces A and A" (the former being the exterior and the latter the lining) are united along their edges a to the foxing of the shoe,

the natural lines of elasticity of the vamp will v run across the foot, as indicated by the arrow in that part ofthe shoe shown in Fig. l. On the other hand, the natural lines of elasticity of the quarter pieces, B and B, representing, respectively, the exterior and the lining, when thus united along their edges b to the foxing and heel, will run lengthwise of the shoe, as indicatedV by the other arrow in Fig. l. In uniting the exterior vamp and quarter pieces the respective edges b b of the former are sewed to the corresponding edges a a of the latter, whereby the ankle seams, one of which is in view in Fig. l, are formed. In similar manner the corresponding edges a a and b b of the lining pieces are sewed together.

In the foregoing I have conned myself to the description of my improvements as applied to overshoes, gaiters, or boots in which the soles, heels, and foxing consist of rubber, be cause the primary object was'the improvement of this class of goods; but it is evident that my invention was equally applicable to such goods in which the-se enumerated parts are of leather.

In consequence of theabovedesoribed msmner of cutting and disposing the textile pieces 0i the vamp and quarter, I ain enabled to furnish e neater, better-fitting, and more eoinfortable article of this class than has ever before been put upon the market.

" I do not intend to claim broadly e shoe with en elastic, textile, or knitted upper, which is elastic longitudinally in the quarter and transversely in the vamp, for I aan aware that such uppers have been knitted in one piece in such a, manner as to eii'eet this result; but limit nity eluiiin to a shoe with an elastic upper eut in twoV parts, and disposed in the way explained,

whereby I am enabled to accomplish the der sired object at a much smaller 00st than Where such upper is made in one piece, and at the same time furnish as durable and nentlytting; an overshoe as any ever made.

What I clztiin es my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A rubber overshoe or boot, the upper of which consists of two pieces cut out of a plain piece ofen elastic, knitted, or Woven fabric in the manner described, so that the lines of einsi tioity of the upper Will run longitudinally in the quarter and transversely in the vamp.

JOHN WILD.

Witnesses:

EDWIN ALDRICH, LOUIS A. Coon. 

